13 April 2023 | Wayne Currall
The moment of truth has arrived. The $1m The Nullarbor – WA’s first slot race – has attracted a stellar 10-horse field with barrier draws playing a pivotal role in the 2503m event.
The Ray Williams-trained Magnificent Storm fared best from the locals at Tuesday’s all-important barrier draw when he came up with gate two. He looks like being sent out as an odds-on favourite and will prove mighty hard to beat, according to members of the WA Trotting Media Guild.
Three members – TABradio’s Matt Young, award-winning journalist Ken Casellas and Guild president Wayne Currall – have all made Magnificent Storm their best bet on the 10-event card.
“Magnificent Storm finally draws a barrier,” Young said. “This horse is electric off the gate and I am expecting him to lead comfortably. He is 16 from 16 when leading and I think from there cyclone Ilsa won’t be the most powerful storm in WA come Friday night.”
Casellas and Currall are singing from the same hymn sheet.
“On an historic night at Gloucester Park, I’m confident that Magnificent Storm will make it a memorable occasion by enhancing his reputation as one of the country’s finest pacers by defying the quality of the opposition and winning the $1 million The Nullarbor slot race,” Casellas said. “He has the speed, strength and grand fighting qualities to justify the tag of champion, and therefore he is my best bet.”
And Currall makes it a hat-trick.
“Connections of Magnificent Storm would have been delighted when their horse was allocated gate two in The Nullarbor,” Currall said. “Driver Aldo Cortopassi should be able to take up the running and from there he’s the one they all have to get over. Magnificent Storm will take his earnings past the magical $1m mark if he’s successful on Friday night.”
Veteran tipster Pat Harding is tipping Jett Star to return to winning form.
“Should be an outstanding night of racing at GP this week,” Harding said. “I have a feeling that Greg and Skye Bond can win a number of races. My best bet comes up in race four with the Bond horse Jett Star in barrier three. I think he can hit the front over the sprint journey and stay there.”
Ernie Manning, the pacing expert from The West Australian and The Sunday Times, and his colleague at The West Australian, racing co-ordinator Ryan Havercroft, are keen on El Chema.
“Five-year-old El Chema, who has shown class in wins at his last three starts, looks hard to beat in view of a barrier-one advantage,” Manning said. “The Justin Prentice-trained gelding, with six victories in his last 11 appearances, was most impressive when running on strongly two weeks ago at Gloucester Park. He had scored there after facing the breeze a fortnight earlier.”
And Havercroft agrees.
“The suggested market for the Eucla (or Nullarbor Consolation) has factored the strong recent form and favourable barrier draw for El Chema,” Havercroft said. “I have made him my best, with the only reservation being that he is yet to win beyond 2242m and this distance may test him, though he will settle on the speed and hug the pegs.”
VALUE BETS
MATT: Jumpingjackmac was outstanding last week and thought he was the value in The Nullarbor. If someone wants to throw caution to the wind, then this horse can capitalise on a quick tempo.
KEN: For value, I suggest seven-year-old Baltic Ace in the final event on Friday night when Gary Hall Jr will be attempting to take full advantage of the No. 1 barrier in a quest for an all-the-way win. Baltic Ace has managed one placing from his past nine starts, but he gets a great chance in a small field to break through for an overdue win.
WAYNE: Taking The Miki has been in great form since returning from a spell with two wins and a last-start third in the Easter Cup after a slow getaway. Looks to be each-way all day in race six.
PAT: My double comes up in race five with another Bond-trained horse, Dont Bother Me None from barrier four. Apart from his last run, he has been very consistent and I think he can win again.
ERNIE: Hillview Bondi has been beaten at his past seven starts and is a winner only once in 19 Gloucester Park appearances. However, the Ryan Bell-trained gelding drew attention when a first-up second despite facing the breeze last Friday night.
RYAN: A small field will see Talks Up A Storm settle close enough to be dangerous in the Retravision Pace. He does have a strong finishing burst and should be running on.
Click Here to view all of the Media Guild tips for this week.
Good punting on a huge night at headquarters.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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